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Letter from the editor: A season recap and goodbyes

By: Greg Levinsky

Nearly 50 players suited up for the Falmouth Commodores across 44 regular season contests, and for a team that began the summer in the depths of the Cape League standings, the 2018 Falmouth Commodores are certainly a team to remember.

Head coach Jeff Trundy completed his 20th year at the helm and guided the Commodores to the West Division finals. Seven Commodores participated in the All-Star Game in which Trundy and his staff coached. Two players earned individual postseason awards and one franchise earned the coveted Commissioner’s Cup.

The Falmouth Commodores were recognized as the league’s top franchise for the second straight summer.

It’s not hard to understand why.

From general manager Eric Zmuda to coach Trundy and his staff, to the players, the interns and all involved – what an amazing team.

“I thought it was just a great summer,” Trundy said. “We had a special group of kids and a special group of people that made this possible.

“Everyone invested their hearts and souls in providing an opportunity for our players, it’s a special place and it was a special summer.”

The Commodores started 2-8-0 and sat in the basement of the 10 team Cape League. Instead of wilting, they soared. They finished with a 26-21-1 overall mark, including a 24-13-1 mark over the last 38 contests and made it to the final four teams left in the playoffs.

For over 75 percent of the season, the Falmouth Commodores, from top to bottom, served as the league’s model franchise in so many ways.

A two-year Commodore, Mitchell Miller (West Texas A&M) exemplifies the spirit of the Falmouth Commodores. He was brilliant in his final outing, pitching 4.2 innings of one run baseball.

Baseball was “fun again” for Mitchell Miller. Photo by Haylee Blitch.

For a player that spent his summer in limbo, unsure whether he’d transfer schools or sign a professional contract, Miller said his two summers with the Commodores served as “the best” summers of his life.

“This coaching staff is second to none and made it fun again,” Miller said. “I’ve had some roller coaster rides the last two yeas of my career, but every time I came up here it was like I was part of a family.

“Going out tonight I gave everything I had to the coaches and my brothers.”

Commodores fans were treated to four walk-off victories on their home diamond at Guv Fuller Field, and watched their beloved Commodores succeed in so many ways, as a team and individually.

Adam Laskey (Duke) established himself as the Cape League’s top arm, and earned the league’s P.F.C. Whitehouse Pitcher of the Year Award for his efforts. Maverick Handley (Stanford) was selected by the league’s umpires for the Silva Sportsmanship Award.

Seeded third in the four team West Division, the Commodores swept second-seeded Hyannis in the division semifinals.

“They never gave up,” Trundy said. “That characteristic, that part of their personality will serve them well for the rest of their lives.”

The 2018 campaign came to a close just under two months after it began, and no one could’ve asked for a better team.

“I was struggling a little bit and I came up here and it was immediately like I was a kid again,” Miller said. “It was awesome.”

Thank you all for following along this summer.

Until next time,

Greg Levinsky

Greg Levinsky can be reached at glevinsk@bu.edu. Follow him on Twitter @GregLevinsky